Separationofpowers Starts New Year and Path in Vagrancy

The $200,000 Vagrancy Handicap (G3) will mark the start of a new year and new outlook for Klaravich Stables' Separationofpowers.

The winner of last year's Longines Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course has not raced since Sept. 22, when she came out of the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) with an ankle chip. The May 11 Vagrancy, run at 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park, will be her first step on the comeback trail as well as the beginning of a new path that will be filled with one-turn stakes for the remainder of the year.

"We'll keep her sprinting this year," trainer Chad Brown said. "We tried to stretch her out and it didn't work out for whatever reason, so we'll only campaign her around one turn this year."

Aside from a fourth-place finish in the Cotillion, the 4-year-old multiple grade 1 winner was also fourth in her only other try at two turns, the 2017 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

The Vagrancy should be right up Separationofpowers' alley. The daughter of Candy Ride  captured the Test at a seven-furlong distance and won her career debut at six furlongs by 11 3/4 lengths. 

Though Separationofpowers has not raced in nearly eight months, Brown has been pleased with her training leading up to Saturday's race.

"She's been fresh and sharp in her works," Brown said. "It seems a logical spot to get her started. She's come back well, and I'm excited to get her started."

Separationofpowers will carry highweight of 120 pounds, giving away between two and four pounds to her four rivals.

Bred in Kentucky by Northwest Farms, Separationofpowers was purchased for $190,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. A half sister to the stakes-winning Empire of War, she has won three of seven starts, including a victory in the 2017 Frizette Stakes (G1) at a one-turn mile, with earnings of $772,500.

Her dam, the Empire Maker  mare Shehadmefromhello, was sold to Summer Wind Equine for $1.1 million last year at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky fall mixed sale.

Rounding out the small field of five are Tobey L. Morton's Pacific Gale and Stonestreet Stables' Dawn the Destroyer, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Distaff Handicap (G3) April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack, as well as Ron Paolucci Racing's Heavenhasmynikki and Lady Sheila Stable's Holiday Disguise, who was third in last year's Vagrancy.

The Vagrancy, with a post time of 1:30 p.m. ET, will be the first of 11 races on the Man o' War Racing Festival card that includes four graded stakes. 

Entries: Vagrancy H. (G3)

Belmont Park, Saturday, May 11, 2019, Race 1

• Grade III
• 6 1/2f
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 1:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Pacific Gale (KY)	Joe Bravo	118	John C. Kimmel	5/2
2	2Heavenhasmynikki (OH)	Kendrick Carmouche	117	Robert B. Hess, Jr.	8/1
3	3Dawn the Destroyer (KY)	Javier Castellano	118	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	2/1
4	4Separationofpowers (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	Chad C. Brown	7/5
5	5Holiday Disguise (NY)	Jose Lezcano	116	Linda Rice	8/1